Alcohol stimulates the release of dopamine and serotonin in the nucleus accumbens

doi:10.1016/0741-8329(92)90004-T

Alcohol

Volume 9, Issue 1, January–February 1992, Pages 17-22

https://doi.org/10.1016/0741-8329(92)90004-T Get rights and content

Abstract

The effects of acute IP administration (0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 g/kg) and local perfusion (25, 50 or 100 mM) of ethanol on the extracellular concentrations of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and their metabolites in the nucleus accumbens (ACC) of the rat were studied with in vivo microdialysis coupled with a small-bore HPLC electrochemical detection procedure. The IP administration of 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg ethanol significantly (p<0.05) increased the extracellular levels of DA and 5-HT in the ACC whereas the 0.5 g/kg dose caused no change. In general, the extracellular levels of the 3 monoamine metabolites were not altered by IP ethanol except for a slight increase in the levels of homovanillic acid following the 2.0 g/kg dose. Local perfusion of 50 and 100 mM ethanol (but not 25 mM) through the microdialysis probe markedly increased (170–200% of control) the extracellular levels of DA in the ACC. Only the 100 mM concentration of ethanol altered the extracellular levels of 5-HT (2-fold increase), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Addition of 100 μM ICS 205–930 (a 5-HT₃ antagonist) to the perfusate markedly reduced the 100 mM ethanol-stimulated release of DA and 5-HT. Overall, the data suggest that ethanol can stimulate the release of both DA and 5-HT in the ACC and that the action of ethanol within the ACC may be mediated in part by 5-HT₃ receptors.

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Alcohol stimulates the release of dopamine and serotonin in the nucleus accumbens

Abstract

Brain Res.

Eur. J. Pharmacol.

Brain Res.

Alcohol

Life Sci.

Physiol. Behav.

Brain Res.

Alcohol

Neurosci. Lett.

Alcohol

Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav.